Florida Beware: What Can Happen Under So-Called “Universal” Background Checks

If you know anyone who is misinformed enough to support so-called “universal background checks”, please show them this article. Thankfully, this District Attorney in Colorado understands the folly of prosecuting law-abiding people.

However, if you simply assume that Florida’s State Attorneys would follow Colorado’s lead under a similar scheme, you might want to reconsider. While some would refuse to prosecute in these situations, unfortunately many Florida State Attorneys are anti-gun and far too quick to go after honest citizens instead of violent criminals.

Back in February and March, NRA-ILA warned that Colorado’s House Bill 1229, criminalizing the private transfer of firearms, was overbroad, and would unduly burden and ensnare law-abiding citizens. Lo and behold, less than seven months after Gov. Hickenlooper signed HB 1229, some victims of September’s devastating floods are fearful of being prosecuted under the new law.

According to an article published in the Greeley Tribune of Greeley, Colo., residents of Weld County, Colo. contacted Weld District Attorney Ken Buck with concerns that if they were to store their firearms with family or friends while cleaning or rebuilding their flood ravaged homes they could face prosecution for an illegal firearms transfer. While the new statute contains very limited exceptions for things like “bona fide gift[s] between immediate family members,” it does not exempt the temporary transfer of a firearm for safekeeping at someone else’s property.

To assuage the fears of his constituents, in a September 30th press release, Buck announced that he will not prosecute anyone experiencing such hardship. Buck is quoted in the press release as stating, “It would be unconscionable to require those affected by the floodwaters to obtain a background check… And it would be equally unconscionable to prosecute them under these circumstances. This is an example of the consequences of laws that are overbroad and not well thought out and illustrates how such laws can harm residents’ rights.”

On the same date, Buck sent a letter to the police chiefs of Weld County and Weld Sheriff John Cooke, alerting them to his position. The letter makes clear to the law enforcement agencies, “the District Attorney’s Office will not accept for prosecution any allegation that an individual failed to obtain a background check prior to…